Hold Your Horses-HVOB

William: Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. My name is William Kremer. Li: And I'm Li. William, what's our phrase today? William: Well, hold on a second Li, let me just play you - Li: No, come on, tell me now - what phrase are we looking at today? William: Well, we'll come onto that in a minute but I've got some very special FX for you... Li: More special FX?! And special music? That's not what our people want! They want authentic English phrases, and they want them now! So what's our phrase today? William: Li, hold your horses! Li: Eh? William: Hold your horses. It means: be patient. Li: Oh... where does this phrase come from, William? William: Well, apparently it comes from battles in times of war: Example FX - Battle re-enactment noise Man: Hold your horses men! FX - gunfire, horses whinnying Li: Wow, Will, your FX this week are really special! William: Hmmm, I know! In that clip we heard a soldier telling his men to hold their horses before he started firing weapons. Li: But nowadays, I am guessing, you don't need to be a soldier to use this phrase, right? William: Exactly, yes. It means: don't rush, be patient. Let's hear a couple of examples: Examples Man: I've just gone online to order us some new computers. What's our charge code again? Woman: Ah, well you're going to have to hold your horses! I haven't agreed a budget yet with the management team. Man: I've just spoken to Mark - Woman: Have you indeed? Well don't listen to a word that man says! He's never liked me... Man: Hey, hey hey! Hold your horses. We didn't discuss you at all, as a matter of fact. Li: So in that first example, the man couldn't order his computers yet because the company hadn't agreed a budget. He had to wait; he had to hold his horses. William: Hmm. And in the second example it was slightly different. In that clip we heard a woman interrupt the man because she thought she knew what he was going to say. Li: Ah yes, the man told her to hold her horse and wait for him to finish speaking. William: Ah, yeah, but Li we never say "Hold your horse" we always say "Hold your horses". Li: Oh OK, I'll bear it in mind. But, er, Will...? William: Yeah? Li: Can you hold this for me please? Horse whinnying